It's the 'Farewell Tour' for Wyld Stallyns at Universal Orlando

August 15, 2017, 8:54 AM ·
Universal Orlando Resort has announced that this year's Halloween Horror Nights will be the last for its popular Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Show.

The live variety show plays in the Fear Factor theater and satirizes the year in news and pop culture, which should provide a rich field of opportunities for the show's "Farewell Tour." The show's not always in what diplomatically might be called "good taste," and the Hollywood version of it died a few years back when it crossed a line that USH park management couldn't accept.

But the Orlando version has endured... at least until now.

So why end the show after this year? Universal's announcement should only fuel long-simmering rumors that the played-out Fear Factor show will go away soon, too, clearing space for an expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter next door. But who knows? For now, fans can enjoy one more season of the irreverent duo from San Dimas.

Replies (15)

August 15, 2017 at 10:01 AM ·
People are going to sorely miss this show. I won't. I appreciate how it entertained people, but I think the joke had worn thin. My first Bill and Ted experience was in 1998. It was my first year as a UO Team Member and my coworkers were besides themselves in anticipation of seeing the show, so I got excited too. I will admit, I thought that first show was amazing! I'd go every year and think, "Geeze, this just isn't as funny as the first time." It dawned on me that what made the show great was the shock value. Theme park shows shouldn't be this raunchy, but it was and I loved it. Problem is shock value wears off. The realization came that the jokes were not really all that funny, they were just mean. I have grown weary of mean. From a practical aspect, HHN will be diminished by not having a big show to pull thousands of people out of the streets several times a night. I hope the Entertainment department finds a way to add something to take the show's place in future years.

August 15, 2017 at 10:14 AM ·
I appreciate the point Rob, but most visitors don't experience HHN every year. I first saw it in 2014 and again last year. Not coming in with any expectations, it really blew me away. I agree that they'll need AT LEAST one big replacement show. I hope the Academy of Villains show continues for a while because that was great last year, but if anything HHN needs to be adding shows to occupy thousands at a time, not subtracting them. Of course a WWHP MoM area would be an awesome replacement for the theatre.

August 15, 2017 at 11:10 AM ·
I do agree that HHN needs a high capacity show, and my first reaction was similar to Robert regarding the constant rumors about the WWoHP displacing the theater. The timing is definitely peculiar, especially given that Universal already announced a new Harry Potter attraction coming to IOA to replace Dragon Challenge in 2019, and the expectation would be that Nintendo Land would come the year after that.

All I know is that I'm glad I already have a trip planned this fall so I can see the last run of this totally awesome show. October 22 can't come soon enough!!

August 15, 2017 at 11:28 AM ·
Another thing to keep in mind is that the other big theater in USF - the Animal Actors stage - also is on the chop block, as it will be going away to clear space for Super Nintendo World. Since Universal typically uses the Music Plaza stage area for mazes, that leaves the park without a space to stage a big show like this.

August 15, 2017 at 11:43 AM ·
It will be interesting to see if the Animal Actors Stage is actually part of the Nintendo project. There's a lot of land back there in KidZone, including the Barney Theater. If E.T. is part of the project, then they've got a HUGE chunk of land to utilize without having to take out the Animal Actors Stage.

August 15, 2017 at 12:17 PM ·
I'll probably be in the minority but I didn't find anything excellent about it! Watched half of one in 2011 then by-passed it with intent in 2014, 2015 and 2016. I am not a killjoy but found absolutely nothing redeeming in the show. May be some American humour is lost on us Brits? I am not there for throw-away comedy so it doesn't complement the evening for me. On the down side, HHN does need 2 high capacity shows to absorb elements of the crowds, especially as no night appears to be a slow night, so will USF be building a new arena to accommodate if WWoHP expands and Animal Actors is demolished for Nintendo Land?

August 15, 2017 at 12:52 PM ·
Aren't there numerous soundtages and side buildings that could be easily adapted for a live show? I know some or most of these are already used for the houses. Also keep in mind that with Cirque du Soleil's acquisition of Blue Man Group who knows what that theatre will be getting used for 13 months from now.

August 15, 2017 at 1:25 PM ·
They need an Elvira-type, whose show never seems to stop at Knott's Scary Farm. Build a show around Morticia from Adams Family. An Orlando only show should prevent Knott's from suing. Elvira was sued by another look-alike, but Elvira won. The odds of a lawsuit is low.

August 15, 2017 at 3:03 PM ·
What is the stage used for between Minions and Fallon During Halloween?

I never saw B&T and I disliked Fear Factor so whatever is going to replace it I'm fine with.I don't expect a big show. Besides The Grinch at Islands during christmas (love that one) Universal is more into smaller show offerings like Blues Brothers, Marilyn Monroe and Celestina Warbeck etc. So a new attraction would be welcome.

107.77.87.96

August 15, 2017 at 6:50 PM ·
I guess the Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show is never coming back now.... :-(

172.90.201.12

August 15, 2017 at 9:10 PM ·
I liked Bill and Teds a lot, similar to the Hanging at Knott's and crushed the pop culture from the year.

I would love to see a new Halloween show offering! Until then we have to deal with the craptastic Jabbawockeez show in Hollywood... again.

August 16, 2017 at 10:15 AM ·
So what will the drunk locals at HHN do now? I’m going to throw my hipster card out here, but I think the show was much better during the years it was in IOA and it has been lulling for many years now.

I have avoided the show the past couple of years because it’s become very formulaic - You wait in a holding area with rowdy, inebriated people. Then you have people rushing to the stairs to find a seat while youtube videos of homemade stunts gone wrong play on a screen. Next the show begins. There’s a loose plot involving several pop culture touch points of the current year (and a few digs at Disney which I have to admit are funny). Finally a few pop songs are played and the actors dance around. Pyrotechnics. Done.

I have been going to HHN since number 13. I made it a point to see at least one Bill and Ted show in the duration that I was visiting Universal HHN each year. The past couple of years I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle for the entertainment being provided. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit older, but I would rather spend my time going through the houses (using HHN express in some cases) than see the same show every year.

I appreciate the show though because it is a massive people eater. I want as many people at HHN to get in line to see it so that the rest of the park is a tiny bit less crowded. If there won’t be a show replacing it in the future I can see this becoming a big problem for walking traffic in the park during peak nights.